Maesycwmmer

Coordinates: 51°37′59″N 3°13′59″W / 51.633°N 3.233°W / 51.633; -3.233

Maesycwmmer
Welsh: Maesycwmer
Wheel o Drams by Andy Hazell
Maesycwmmer  Maesycwmmer shown within Caerphilly
Population	2,141 (2001)
OS grid reference	ST1594
Community	Maesycwmmer
Principal area	Caerphilly
Ceremonial county	Gwent
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	HENGOED
Postcode district	CF82
Dialling code	01443
Police	Gwent
Fire	South Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
EU Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Islwyn
Welsh Assembly	Islwyn
List of places: UK • Wales • Caerphilly

Maesycwmmer (Welsh: Maesycwmer) is a village and community in the centre of Caerphilly County Borough in Wales, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire.

Origin of the name

Some have claimed that the village name should be spelled as Maes-y-Cymer, meaning "the field of the confluence of streams". As Maesycwmer, however, the name is probably derived from Maes (field) + cwmwr (footbridge). A local tradition holds that a large tree was blown down during a storm, forming a natural footbridge across the river. The footbridge was used by noted preacher and local pioneer of the printing press, the Rev. John Jenkins (also known as Shôn Shincyn), to cross the river to his house. Jenkins' house "Maesycwmmwr House" was built in 1826 and stood on the east side of the river. In the 1840 Tithe Map for the village is given as Maesycwmwr, with the spelling then varying to Maesycmwer over time.^[1]

Location

Maesycwmmer is located 5 miles (8.0 km) north of Caerphilly, on the east bank of the Rhymney River, opposite Hengoed, which is within the historic boundaries of Glamorgan.

History & amenities

Maesycwmmer is still overshadowed by the vast Hengoed Viaduct,^[2] which dates from 1853 and which carried the Taff Vale Extension of the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway over the Rhymney valley. In 2000 the viaduct was re-opened for public pedestrian access.

Today the village features the "Wheel o Drams" (locally known as "The Stargate") sculpture by Andy Hazell, an unusual piece of modern art formed from a circle of coalmining dram trucks to commemorate the industrial heritage of this locality within the history of the South Wales Valleys. The village shared three railway stations with neighbouring Hengoed over the years (see Hengoed railway station).

There are three pubs in Maesycwmmer: The Maesycwmmer Inn, The Butchers Arms and The Angel.

Maesycwmmer was a creation of the Industrial Revolution in the South Wales Coalfield. The houses built along the main road were purpose built for the workers that built the Maesycwmmer to Hengoed Viaduct. There is also a disused quarry in a field behind the houses of St Annes Gardens.

Maesycwmmer has both a junior and a senior football team. The senior team, Maesycwmmer FC, was founded in 2010 and plays in the North Gwent Football League. Matches are played at The Bryn, just outside of Maesycwmmer. The Angel pub, which the team used for its post match entertainment, is the main club sponsor.

Notable residents

Maesycwmmer's most famous resident is the actor Craig Roberts, most noted for his role in the BAFTA nominated CBBC programme Young Dracula. He also appeared in later series of The Story of Tracy Beaker.

References

1. ^ Place Names of the Rhymney Valley at mentercaerffili.org
2. ^ Maesycwmmer Viaduct at geograph.org.uk

External links

• Old photo of the viaduct in 1952
• Genuki on Maesycwmmer